Artificial Electronic-Skin: Large Area Sensor Networks (Printed Electronics USA 2013)

In this talk, development of large-area sensor networks on a skin-like substrate capable of spatial and temporal mapping of a wide range of stimuli is discussed. The enabled electronic-skin (e-skin) presents a new class of smart materials which can be laminated on virtually any object while providing user interfacing with the external ambient at an unprecedented scale. The stimuli could include pressure (e.g., touch), temperature, strain (e.g., crack formation), light (imaging), and more. Recent advancements in semiconductor materials with unusual form factors, device architectures, and process technologies needed for obtaining the envisioned system will be discussed. Specifically, an example e-skin prototype with fully integrated electronic device components, tactile sensors and OLED display will be presented.

Ali Javey received a PhD in chemistry from Stanford University in 2005, and served as a Junior Fellow of Harvard Society of Fellows from 2005 to 2006. He then joined the faculty of the University of California, Berkeley where he is currently an associate professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences.

Professor Javey's research interests encompass the fields of chemistry, materials science and electrical engineering. His work focuses on the integration of nanoscale electronic materials for various technological applications, including novel nanoelectronics, flexible circuits and sensors, and energy generation and harvesting. For his contributions to the field, he has received a number of awards, including the IEEE Nanotechnology Early Career Award (2010); Alfred P. Sloan Fellow (2010); Mohr Davidow Ventures Innovators Award (2010); National Academy of Sciences Award for Initiatives in Research (2009); Technology Review TR35 (2009); NSF Early CAREER Award (2008); U.S. Frontiers of Engineering by National Academy of Engineering (2008); and the Peter Verhofstadt Fellowship from the Semiconductor Research Corporation (2003).

Smart phones, cars, and wearable activity trackers are just a few examples of products with sensors based on technologies pioneered at the Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center, a Graduated NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Micro/Nanoelectromechanical Sensors & Systems (MEMS/NEMS). New research at BSAC will have even greater impacts on consumer, industrial, and medical products.